Please note that the UK Border Agency is now part of the Home Office. For the purposes of the information below please regard the UK Border Agency and the Home Office as the same thing. (April 2013)
Online Application
Graduate applicants are invited to use the online application system.
Please ensure you read the application requirements below thoroughly before applying.
If you have any enquiries about the application process, please email graduateadmissions@aaschool.ac.uk
If you would like to comment on the application system, have any questions, report any bugs or experience any difficulties with payment, please email aadp@aaschool.ac.uk.
All applicants are required to complete an application form, accompanied by the appropriate registration fee. Academic and/or work references should also be provided. With the exception of History & Critical Thinking and Conservation of Historic Buildings, and in addition to the previous requirements, applicants to all programmes are required to submit a portfolio of design work. This portfolio should be hard copy, no larger than A4 size, and accompanied by the completed Portfolio Cover Sheet (pdf). CDs are also accepted but must be accompanied by a printed hard copy portfolio. All applicants are encouraged to attend a personal interview. Appointments can be made through the Graduate School.
Degree validation
The AA is an Approved Institution and Affiliated Research Centre of The Open University (OU), UK. All taught graduate degrees at the AA are validated by the OU. The OU is the awarding body for research degrees at the AA.
English Language
The AA reserves the right to make a place in the School conditional on gaining a further English language qualification if deemed necessary. Any student without the required English language examinations must register in an English language school and book and pass the required examination before May 2013, prior to entry in Term 1.
To meet both the AA and the UKBA English language requirements you will need to have one of the acceptable language qualifications listed below, unless you are from one of the following groups:
- You are a national of a majority English-speaking country as defined by the list on the UKBA website
- You have successfully completed an academic qualification of at least three years in length, equivalent to a UK Bachelor's (undergraduate) degree or above, which was taught in a majority English-speaking country as defined by the UKBA (see link above)
- You have successfully completed a course in the UK as a Tier 4 (Child) student visa holder. The course must have lasted for at least six months, and must have ended no more than two years prior to your visa application
The following qualifications satisfy both the requirements of the UKBA and the entry requirements of the AA:
- IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each category) – two year validity period: must be within the two years at time of CAS visa application.
- Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English at grade C1 or C2)
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English at grade C2)
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) (Academic) overall minimum of 63 with a score of at least 59 in each category
- Internet-based TOEFL – overall score of 90 with at least 22 for listening, 22 for reading, 23 for speaking and 23 for writing.
DISCLAIMER: Please note the English language qualification requirements are subject to frequent change as instructed by the UK Border Agency.
Programmes
MA History & Critical Thinking (12 months)
Second Class Honours or above degree in architecture or a related discipline from a British university, or an overseas qualification of equivalent standard (from a course no less than three years in a university or educational institution of university rank).
MA Housing & Urbanism (12 months)
Second Class Honours or above degree in architecture or a related discipline from a British university, or an overseas qualification of equivalent standard (from a course no less than three years in a university or educational institution of university rank).
MA Landscape Urbanism (12 months)
Professional degree or diploma in architecture, landscape architecture or urbanism
MArch in Architecture & Urbanism (Design Research Laboratory) (16 months)
Five-year professional architectural degree (BArch/Diploma equivalent degree)
MSc Emergent Technologies & Design (12 months)
Professional degree or diploma in architecture, engineering, industrial/product design or other relevant discipline
MArch Emergent Technologies & Design (16 months)
Five-year professional architectural degree or diploma in architecture, engineering, industrial/product design or other relevant discipline or five-year professional architectural degree (BArch/Diploma equivalent)
MSc Sustainable Environmental Design (12 months)
Professional degree or diploma in architecture, engineering or other relevant discipline
MArch Sustainable Environmental Design (16 months)
Five-year professional architectural degree (BArch/Diploma in architecture)
Graduate Diploma in Building Conservation (day-release)
Open to students/professionals with Part 2 (RIBA/ARB) or equivalent recognised qualifications. Suitably qualified members of other disciplines (e.g., surveyors, planners) may be considered.
MArch Design & Make (16 months)
Five-year professional architectural degree (BArch/Diploma equivalent degree)
Post Graduate Diploma in Spatial Performance & Design (AAIS) (12 months; 24 months part time): Second Class or above Honours Degree in architecture or a related discipline from a British University or an overseas qualification of equivalent standard (from a course lasting not less than three years in a university or educational institution of university rank).
Mphil Projective Cities (20months)
Open to candidates with a four or five-year degree in architecture (BArch, Diploma or equivalent degree).
MPhil or PhD candidates
Candidates for MPhil/PhD research degrees must already hold an appropriate post-professional Master's degree in their proposed area of MPhil/PhD research.
Application Dates
For entry into the academic year 2013/14, applicants are asked to submit their applications and portfolios by Friday 18th January, (application fee £40). You must apply by 18 January to put an application forward for an AA Bursary should you need this upon receipt of an offer from the AA. Late applications will be accepted up to Friday 15 March 2013 (late application fee £60). Applications received after this deadline will be accepted at the discretion of the School.
